Tompkins County is allocating resources to bolster a county re-entry program, designed to help people who are incarcerated connect with services in the community and reduce recidivism.

Last February, the 22-member Criminal Justice/Alternatives to Incarceration Board, or CJATI, formed the Re-entry Subcommittee, which studied what contributes to recidivism and unsuccessful re-entry into the community after being released from jail. In September, the committee finalized its re-entry report.

What the committee found was that successful re-entry requires more than helping the formerly incarcerated find jobs — it also requires helping offenders change their attitudes and beliefs about crime, addressing mental health and housing issues, providing mentoring, offering educational opportunities and job training, and connecting them with community resources.

On Wednesday, the Tompkins County Public Safety Committee voted in favor of appropriating $100,000 from a contingent fund to the probation and community justice department to implement a re-entry plan. An estimated $65,000 will be allocated for a re-entry coordinator and case management, $10,000 for a grant writer and $25,000 to enhance contractual services for GED and life skills at Day Reporting site to accommodate an expected increase in clients.

Discussing the allocation for grant writing, county Administrator Joe Mareane said, "We believe we're kind of at the forefront of what's happening here with re-entry, particularly in terms of the demonstration of local support, local investment. We doubt that this is happening in many other parts of the country, which we think will make this a really good candidate for philanthropic money and other money."

After recognizing the need for more services, the county initiated a re-entry pilot project at the Tompkins County Jail nearly eight years ago. It originally involved a "multitude" of community stakeholders, but today continues only with involvement from members of Department of Social Services, Probation, OAR and a correction officer at the jail.

Inmates who are part of this pilot receive public assistance the day after they are released, since their DSS applications are completed and submitted 45 days prior to release; transportation to DSS from the Tompkins County Jail for an intake appointment; and assessment for additional needs such as housing, education, employment, substance abuse and mental health counseling, SSI/SSD and legal issues, and are referred to appropriate agencies.

Since the inception of the program, 143 people have been served. However, data shows that of that number, about 64 percent have not returned to the Tompkins County Jail. Because it appeared successful, the Tompkins County Legislature made a commitment to provide support for the program by setting aside $100,000.

In Tompkins County, about 60 percent of the jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing and 40 percent are sentenced, the report noted. The average length of stay for unsentenced inmates is 37 days, which, the report says, leaves little time or capacity to assess and provide services prior to release.

There are four phases of the re-entry plan: hire or contract an experienced re-entry coordinator; evaluate the efficacy of current services and identify inefficiencies or deficiencies; seek alternative funding and grant opportunities to supplement current services and develop missing or inadequate services; and throughout the first 12 to 18 months, explore the need for assistance for coordinator.